Are legal briefs justified?
Asked by: Brandi Blick | Last update: January 6, 2026Score: 5/5 (26 votes)
In favor of left-justified text In addition, many legal documents are left-justified, including most contracts, briefs, letters, and nearly all email messages. So left-justification has tradition and history on its side.
Should legal briefs be justified?
Some legal writers prefer fully justified text. Fully justified text creates clean vertical margins on the left and right, and it's standard in most books, magazines, and professional publications.
Should a legal memo be justified?
For legal documents, some lawyers prefer justified text (also called “fully justified” text) and others prefer left-aligned text (also called “left-justified” text).
Should papers be left aligned or justified?
APA Style (7th ed.)
Align the text in the body of your paper flush against the left margin with a ragged right margin (e.g., the alignment of this page) (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 45). Do not use full justification, which spaces the text equally across the width of the page.
Are legal briefs persuasive?
Brief writing can differ from other, more objective forms of legal writing. While a memo to a client or a senior colleague strives to provide a neutral, evenhanded assessment of a legal issue, a brief is fundamentally persuasive writing. Your goal is to confidently stake out your position.
What is a Legal Brief
What is the purpose of a legal brief?
A Statement of Facts that sets forth all of the key factual elements a court should use in making its decision.
Do judges read briefs?
"Usually, I will come on the bench with my mind made up' said Judge Gage. "I've read the briefs before I come on the bench. I'm usually just looking for counsel to tell me where I'm wrong."
Is justified or left-aligned more professional?
Justification is a matter of personal preference. It is not a signifier of professional typography. For instance, most major U.S. newspapers and magazines use a mix of justified and left-aligned text. Books, on the other hand, tend to be justified.
Should dissertations be justified?
3.4. The main text of the dissertation should normally be left-justified to aid accessibility and readability.
Is MLA justified or left-aligned?
MLA: Step by Step for Newcomers to the Style
5) You text should be aligned left (also go to Paragraph and look under General.) 6) Indent the first line of paragraphs one half-inch from the left margin.
What is the difference between a legal memo and a legal brief?
As you know, the purpose of a memo is to answer a legal question, and your role as its writer is to objectively research and predict the answer. A brief, on the other hand, is written to persuade the reader that one position on the issue is the correct one.
Are memos left justified?
A memo is usually a page or two long, should be single spaced and left justified. Instead of using indentations to show new paragraphs, skip a line between sentences. Business materials should be concise and easy to read.
What documents should be justified?
I find that most readers prefer justification in documents with a narrow line width, e.g., brochures and newspapers. In addition, books are traditionally published with full justification.
What is the legal term justified?
justification n
1 : the act or an instance of justifying. 2 : something that justifies. ;specif. : a legally sufficient reason or cause (as self-defense) for an act that would otherwise be criminal or tortious. 3 : the affirmative defense of having a legally sufficient justification compare excuse.
Are footnotes justified in the bluebook?
All footnotes should be left and right-justified (i.e., flush with the right margin), unless this creates awkward spacing.
How long are legal briefs usually?
We analyzed the composition of 10,000+ legal briefs, appeals, original proceedings, and trial motions that TypeLaw has helped attorneys prepare and found that the average brief contains: 6371 words. 16 headings (nested into 4 levels) 70 paragraphs.
Do employers care about thesis?
When choosing a graduate program, you'll find that you may have to decide between pursuing either a thesis or non-thesis master's degree. Although employers do not consider which you choose during the hiring process, your decision can significantly impact the skills you acquire in your academic career.
Should research papers be justified?
The text of your paper should be left aligned, NOT justified, as justified text is hard to read if it hasn't been professionally typeset. The default in Word is left alignment so don't change it.
Are doctoral dissertations credible?
Note: While dissertations are definitely scholarly and are reviewed and edited before publication, they do not go through a peer-review process, and thus, aren't considered peer-reviewed sources.
Is it better to align left or justify?
You might find yourself skipping lines or missing words — and that isn't surprising, since most modern readers are more comfortable with left-aligned text. Why? For starters, fully justified text introduces blank space between characters or between words.
Is APA justified or left-aligned?
All paragraphs should be left-aligned (do not full-justify text). For each new paragraph indent five spaces or ½ inch. Use the tab key to indent paragraphs.
Is fully justified text harder to read?
The alignment of text can greatly affect readability and accessibility, especially for users with dyslexia, low vision, or those using assistive technologies. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) recommend avoiding full justification and limiting center justification to 1-2 line text blocks.
Do lawyers actually say "may it please the court"?
The very first statement out of moot court competitors' mouths should always be, "May it please the Court, my name is _____, counsel for the [appellant/appellee], _____." It is very important to remember to say, "May it please the Court;" it is a well-established formality of moot court competition, to which you should ...
What color do judges like to see in court?
Above All, Dress Conservatively and Respectfully
Navy blue is a preferred color choice, as it conveys professionalism and makes a serious impression on judges and juries. Ultimately, the impression you first make on the person who will be deciding your case is going to depend on your physical appearance.
Why do lawyers write briefs?
Lawyers often prepare briefs which highlight and clarify certain information or provide legal comparisons in an attempt to persuade the courtroom to rule in favor of that lawyer's client.